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Psychological thriller \u2018The Tokoloshe\u2019, directed by Jerome Pikwane and starting Petronella Tshuma (Rhythm City, Scandal!), opens at cinemas countrywide on 2 November. The film recently screened at the first-ever Comic Con Africa, from 14 to 16 September, and audiences reacted positively both to the film itself as well as the visual effects presentation by the VFX and sound design team.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAs a distributor of films, it was great to show The Tokoloshe at Comic Con while South Africans were dressed up as super heroes and monsters from films like Batman, Black Panther or Star Wars\u201d, said Helen Kuun, head of Indigenous Film Distribution.<\/p>\n
The chilling film has generated much interest at fantasy and horror festivals around the world. It had its European premiere at Frightfest in London, the UK\u2019s largest international horror film festival. Known as the \u2018dark heart of film\u2019, the festival showcases the best and most exciting horror from around the globe.<\/p>\n
The South African film, a tale about a terrifying predator, tells the story of Busi (Tshuma), a young woman who is desperate for money and takes a cleaning job at a rundown hospital. There she befriends a young girl, Gracie (Kwande Nkosi), who believes she is being terrorised by a supernatural being called the Tokoloshe, a diminutive, malevolent spirit with sexual desires who can cause illness or even death. When children start being taken, Busi is forced to ask if the Tokoloshe is indeed responsible.<\/p>\n
Frightfest reviewer Kat Hughes said, \u201cIt\u2019s a slow-building supernatural story that teases the scares as the film unfolds. It\u2019s not a jump-scare fest like a lot of Hollywood movies, it\u2019s much more sophisticated and intellectual\u2026It perfectly conveys that fear of the dark that you felt as a child, and also works as a brilliant homage to \u2018A Nightmare on Elm Street\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
UK horror movie review site, Love Horror, said, \u201cdirector Pikwane has done himself proud with this unnerving and progressive piece\u201d, adding that the visual bleakness of the aesthetic and the choice of a dingy setting with low lighting brings about \u201can uncomfortable stifling mood which remains a consistent element of the film\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAudiences responded positively both in the UK and at the world premiere of \u2018The Tokoloshe\u2019 in South Korea,\u201d says Pikwane.\u00a0 \u201cThe story has universal appeal \u2013 Busi must confront the demons from her past so that she can save her young friend from the unrelenting monster that hunts them. It\u2019s an evil that has pursued her all her life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Producer Dumi Gumbi said, \u201cFilm reviewers in the UK have given \u2018The Tokoloshe\u2019 a \u20184 out of 5\u2019 rating, which is meaningful coming from international horror experts. We are hoping that South Africans will love seeing how this film deals with a scary South African myth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018The Tokoloshe\u2019 releases on 2 November at cinemas in South Africa \u2013 just in time for the Halloween season.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Tokoloshe\u2019, which has already seen several international sales, was funded by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and M-Net Movies, and will be released by Indigenous Film Distribution.<\/p>\n
Indigenous Film Distribution: www.indigenousfilm.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n